Ultramagic N425 accident near Clermont, Florida, April 16, 2012
On April 16, 2012 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Ultramagic N425 (balloon), registered N990BR, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clermont, Florida. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The balloon passenger's failure to maintain her grip during landing, which resulted in a fall and injury to another passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2012 · about 12:15 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Clermont, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ultramagic N425 NO SERIES
- Registration
- N990BR · registry record · serial N425-52
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the completion of a balloon flight, the balloon touched down while moving at 4 mph and bounced. An adult passenger did not maintain her grip on the hand-holds and fell into another passenger, breaking that passenger’s wrist. According to the operator, the multi-passenger, partition-basket balloon was used for sightseeing flights. The passengers were given a briefing card and briefed at the operator's facility before being bused to the launch site, where a more detailed briefing was provided by the balloon’s pilot. The items briefed included the location of hand-holds and the proper stance at touchdown.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Cabin safety event during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Balloon/dirigible structures › (general) › Not used/operated other cases naming the airframe structure
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,550 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 8,183 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Orlando FL
- Destination: Clermont FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 10, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence with Operator (Pre Flight Briefings) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Briefing Card (Former) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Briefing Card (Revised) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N990BR on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Ultramagic 45 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 984 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,704 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA12CA328.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.